Omaha and surrounding areas are facing dangerous travel conditions as a blizzard continues to impact central and eastern Nebraska. The National Weather Service (NWS) has advised against travel, citing strong winds and heavy snowfall.
By 10 p.m. Tuesday, nearly 7,000 Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) customers were without power across Douglas and Sarpy counties. High winds, reaching up to 70 mph, are expected to continue through Wednesday.
Schools and Businesses Close
- Creighton University closed its campus at 7 p.m. Tuesday, canceling all classes, clinics, events, and activities.
- Omaha Public Schools moved to virtual learning for Wednesday, while several other districts—including Westside, Bellevue, Ralston, and Plattsmouth—announced closures. Some Iowa school districts, including Glenwood and Harlan, are also closed.
- Other districts opted for a two-hour delay on Wednesday.
Dangerous Road Conditions
- The Omaha-metro saw worsening traffic conditions throughout Tuesday. The evening commute was impacted by a traffic light outage at 72nd and Dodge Streets.
- The City of Council Bluffs issued a snow emergency, in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday, prohibiting parking on designated snow emergency routes.
- Pottawattamie County also declared a snow emergency, banning parking on public county roads to allow for snow removal.
- First Alert 6 Weather Team expects 3-6 inches of snow in the metro by Wednesday, with worsening conditions overnight.
Power Outages and Precautions
- OPPD is prepared for potential tree damage and power outages due to high winds.
- Residents are urged to charge devices, keep flashlights handy, and avoid opening refrigerators or freezers to preserve food.
- Power outages can be reported by calling OPPD at 1-800-554-6773.
